Condenser



J. E. GRACE June 1 8, 1929.

counsusnn Filed larch 8, 1928 JOHN F. GRACE.

IN ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1929.

UNETED d'ifA'lES PATENT @FFECE.

JOHN E. GRACE, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VIORTHINGTON PUB/I1AND IJIACHINEBY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIR-GINIA.

CONDENSER.

Application filed March 8, 1928. Serial No. 260,018.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type and anobject of the invention is to provide a condenser in which leakage oi'cooling water, circulated through the tubes oi: the condenser, into thesteam chamber and its mixing with the condensate will be prevented.

A further object of the present inventlon is to provide a condenserstructure in which both ends of the condenser tubes may be expanded intothe tube heads to provide fluid tight connections and to provide meansfor compensating for crqpansion and contraction oi" the tubes due totemperature variances and also to accommodate or compensate tor unequalexpansion of the respective tubes due to difference in temperatures 10-cally within the condenser.

The present invention embodies a condenser having a floating water boxto which one of the tube sheets or heads of the condenser is attachedand an expansion joint between the tube sheet and condenser shell topermit movement of the tube sheet and water box relative to the shell tocompensate for expansion and contraction of the condenser tubes underheat variances, and it also embodies flexible supporting or suspensionmeans establishing movable connection between the water box andcondenser snell to permit supported movement of the water box tocompensate for localized variances of temperatures within the condenser.

llith these objects in view, the invention consists in various featuresof construction and combination of parts, which will be first describedin connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser ot thepreferred form en'ibodying the invention, and the features forming: theinven tion will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of a condenser constructedin accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a condenser constructed in accordance withthis invention.

Fig. is a detailed side elevation showing a sli ht modification in theflexible suspension means, and

Fig. 4: is a detailed cross section on the line 1 d of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the draw.

ings, the improved condenser comprises a shell 1 having an exhauststeaminlet 2 through which the exhaust steam to be condensed enters thecondenser shell 1 and passes transversely therethrough about the coolingtubes 3. Cooling water for condensing the steam is circulated throughthe tubes 3 and the water boxes 4 and 5 while the condensate passes tothe hot well 6 from which it is drawn in any suitable manner. To preventleakage of the circulated cooling water into the condenser chamber andits resulting mixing with the condensate, the tubes 8 have their endsexpanded into the tube heads or sheets, one of which is shown at 7 inthe drawings. While the tubes 3 are shown as expanded into the tubeheads, it is to be understood that they may be connected to the tubeheads or sheets in any suitable manner so as to provide a fluid tightjoint.

Owing to the fluctuation of temperatures within a condenser operatedunder varying loads, it is necessary to provide compensa tion for theexpansion and contraction of the tubes 3 under the heat variances due tothe varying load, so as to prevent rupturing of the connections betweenthe tubes and the tube sheets. I

In the present embodiment, tube sheet? is attached to the water box 5and they are both connected to the condenser shell 1 by an expansionjoint 8 which is a gasket of flexible material, preferably rubber or acombination of rubber and cloth or any suitable material found adaptablefor the purpose, which will not corrode or deteriorate upon contact withthe water and steam in the condenser shell and which will embodysufficient elasticity to permit of the necessary relative movementbetween the tube sheet and the shell 1 to compensate for expansion andcontraction of the tubes. The gasket 8, which forms the expansion jointengages between the tube sheet '7 and the water box 5, and is attachedto the casing 1 by clamping ring 9 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

To provide supported movement of the water box 5 which moves with theexpansion and contraction of the tubes, brackets 10 are attached to theshell 1 above the plane intersecting the horizontal axis of the waterbox while brackets 11 are attached to the water box below the horizontalplane bisecting the axis of the water box and flexible as shown, inFigs. 1 and 2. In all other respects the modified form shown in Fig. 3is similar to the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

It Will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific construe tion or arrangement of parts shown but that these maybe modified widely within the invention defined by theclaims.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1.. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, and suspension springsconnecting the water box and shell to permit limited 11lovement of thewater box relative to the shell.

2. In a surface condenser, a shell, awater box, and laminated suspensionsprings connecting the water box and shell to permit limited movement ofthe water box relative to the shell.

3. In a surface'condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connectedto the water box, a flexible gasket connecting the water box and shell,and springs forming a movable supporting connection between the shelland water box.

at. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connectedto the water box, a flexible gasket connecting the water box and shell,and springs forming a movable supporting connection between the shelland water box, the active part of said flexible gasket being exposedexteriorly of the condenser shell and water box.

In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connected tosaid water box, and suspension springs connected to said shell above theplane of the horizontal axis of the condenser and to the water box belowthe plane of the horizontal axis of the condenser. V

6. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connectedto said water box, and suspension springs connected to said shell abovethe plane of the horizontal shell, the active part of said flexiblegasket being exposed exteriorly of the condenser shell and water box.

8. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carriedthereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, afluid tight expansion joint between said water box and shell, andlaminated springs forming a supporting connection. between the shell andwater box.

9. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carriedthereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, afluid tight expansion joint between said water box and shell, andlaminated springs forming a supporting connection between the shell andwater box, the active part of said expansion joint being exposedexteriorly of the shell and water box.

10. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carriedthereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, afluid tightexpansion joint between said water box and shell, brackets onsaid shell, brackets on the water box, and flexible springs connected tosaid brackets to provide yieldably supporting connection between theshell and water box.

11. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carriedthereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, afluid tight expansion joint between said water box and shell, bracketscarried by said shell above the plane of the horizontal axis of thecondenser, brackets carried by the water box below horizontal planeofthe condenser, and spring strips connected to said brackets forproviding yieldable supports for the water box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN F. GRACE.

